Prudent and Practical

Sunday Farmer’s Market

The concert weekend was topped off with some great time alone with Mom and Dad.  After having breakfast at Perkin’s, we visited Hiawatha’s Sunday Farmer’s Market where I bought a package of beef brats.  It was $8 for 2 pounds (8 brats).  This isn’t much more expensive than what the regional grocer sells and  it’s locally grown at Heritage Point Farm in Center Point, Iowa.

Before the crazy wind started knocking tents over, I managed to talk to one of the guys from Creative StoneWerx.  They engrave collegiate symbols, names, and addresses on Indiana limestone.  An Iowa State engraved stone would be a wonderful Christmas gift for D, so I got their business card.

The farmer’s market is at a park in Hiawatha.  If you’re coming from Edgewood Road, turn East onto Blairs Ferry Road.  Keep an eye out for signs on the left (north) side of the road.

Bass Farms

Mom and Dad have been telling me about Bass Farms.  “Oh my gosh!  You have to see this place!”  So they drove me out there.  The owner is a 24 year-old local.

What I liked: It’s all nice, new, and shiny.  I like that someone is taking a risk with an operation like this near Cedar Rapids and the owner’s were quite friendly.  I liked the watermelon and the green pepper I bought.  The texture of the watermelon and the aroma of the pepper were unlike anything you can get at the store.

What I didn’t like: The overuse of a gas-guzzling gator to bring produce up a short distance from the field.  A Gothic arch greenhouse, a brand spanking new shed, and many acres of land outside of a metropolitan area = a lot of money was sunk into this place.  Premium fruits and veggies are hauled in from Chicago.  “Premium” meaning tropical fruits and more cultivars of produce he already sells.  The tomatoes I purchased, one from the farm and one premium, were not exciting.

Bottom line: I’m not sure yet.  I hope that Cedar Rapidian’s will be open to something new like this.  Organic products are still a new concept in the Midwest and Bass Farms is filling the organic produce void in the Cedar Rapids area.  I’m interested in seeing how things unfold with this place and I’d love to give it a second-chance visit next year.

Bass Farms is located along Highway 30 across from Palisades-Kepler State Park.

The Mansion in the Middle of Town

Every time I’m in Cedar Rapids, I drive past an interesting home.  It’s along the drive between D’s parent’s home and my parent’s home.  The story goes: a man won the lottery.  He built his home and then attached a Mother-in-Law’s “suite” on the right side of the house and then built his sister a home right next door.  Nobody I know likes it.  You can click on the photos below for a bigger version.  I even took a shot of their typical neighbor’s home to show you how out of place this house really is.  It looks like an office building amidst a residential area.  It’s even creepier at night.  They installed security lights all around the house right under the eave.  There is absolutely no backyard.  If I won the lottery, my house would not be entirely brick with big-box-retailer retaining wall blocks in the front, nor would it be in the middle of town in the middle of houses one-third the size.  It’s sad.  The short street only has about six other homes besides the mansion – two of them are for sale.  My guess is that it is not because of the recession.  The house has now been in build-mode for the past year.  Every time I visit home, I think something will look different on it.  Alas, the windows are still frosted over and no signs of life exist.  At the intersection of O Avenue and Edgewood Road Northwest, go west.  You can’t miss it.

If you’re around Cedar Rapids, stop at these places.  I’d love to hear what you think!